#31 Guest: Delaware Department of Labor Leadership Academy 2026 Keynote Excerpt

One of the biggest challenges I see across systems is the gap between a strong plan and real results. In this episode of Implement Change in Education, I share an excerpt from a talk I gave at the Delaware Department of Labor’s Leadership Academy, a month-long development opportunity for promising managers of people and projects. Through two powerful stories - one from healthcare and one from child nutrition work in Vietnam. I explore what it takes to move from strategy to execution. I break down two different implementation challenges: When we know the goal and the evidence-based moves, but execution is the barrier When we do not yet know the answer and need to find the bright spots already working in the field This episode focuses on making change practical. Whether you are leading literacy improvement, strengthening workforce systems, improving access to benefits, or trying to move a complex organization toward better outcomes, the same question applies: How do we make it easier for people to do the right thing? If you are leading change, managing teams, or trying to close the gap between planning and results, this episode is worth a listen. Show Note Links: University of Delaware Institute for Public Administration How to Implement Just About Anything by Tom DeWire Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip Heath & Dan Heath